Grounded sandal

ABSTRACT

A grounding foot-worn sandal has a sole with an upper foot-supporting surface and a lower ground-engaging surface. A strap extends upwardly over the upper surface of the sole for receiving a portion of a user&#39;s foot therein. An elongated conductive strip extends from the upper surface of the sole to the lower surface of the sole, such that the elongated strip simultaneously contacts the ground and a user&#39;s foot to provide a conductive path therebetween and ground the user with the earth&#39;s surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to grounded shoes. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to grounded foot-wornsandals, wherein a wearer's foot is conductively coupled and grounded tothe earth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The earth is widely regarded as a powerful energy source that has anabundance of electrons and thus has a negative charge. When we makedirect contact with the earth, we absorb electrons into our bodies whichhelps return us to a more normalized healthy body state. When the bodyis in conductive contact with the earth, they become a single conductorwith one equipotential surface.

Continuous contact with the surface of the earth is desirable tomaximize the effects of grounding the body to the earth. In a relativelyshort period of time of continuous contact with the earth's surface,positive physiological benefits have been found to be achieved.Evidence-based claims by scientists and medical professionals show thatgrounding, direct physical contact with the naturally occurringfree-flowing electrons from the surface of the earth promotes multiplephysiological changes of important clinical significance to the wearer'swellbeing.

Studies have shown an immediate decrease in skin conductance, a measureof an autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, indicating an immediaterelaxation of the body at grounding. This can happen in as little as onesecond. This relaxation of the ANS disappears almost instantaneouslywhen the person is not grounded. It has also been observed that afteronly twenty to thirty minutes of continuous grounding, there wereobservable changes in physiology function that promote healing as couldbe observed within a study using thermal imaging. Additional studiesshow normalization in muscle tension, calming of brain waves,improvement in vagal tone and a reduction of inflammation. These studiessuggest the importance of continuous grounding of the body for optimalresults. Changes in the body's native electric potential can directlyaffect the body and health of the individual.

Such grounding can occur when an individual walks barefoot on grass,sand, soil, rocks, unsealed tile, bricks or stone or even concretesidewalks. However, when insulated from the earth, the body equalizeswith the earth's atmospheric potential, which increases by approximatelyone hundred volts per meter relative to the earth's surface and reachesabout four hundred thousand volts at fifty kilometers up in theatmosphere where there is a highly conductive layer of air. Loss of theearth's charge creates an atmospheric (positive) charge in the body thatis measurable via changes in skin electric potential, heart ratevariability, and the surface charge on red blood cells. Anotherelectrical change that commonly occurs when the human body loses itsearth potential is that it becomes electrified with static charges. Awell-known example is that many factory employees must be earth-groundedwhen handling electronic chips and components. Other employees in thechemical, gasoline and explosive industries are also grounded to preventstatic sparks that can otherwise promote electrical damage, fire orexplosions.

Footwear today is commonly manufactured with non-conductive rubber orother synthetic materials that prevent the flow of electrons between thewearer and the earth and prevent their bodies from maintaining theearth's electric potential. By creating a non-penetrable barrier betweenpeople and the earth, synthetic footwear has exasperated the internalelectrical imbalance that has been found to compromise our health.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for footwear which can be wornby a user and create a conductive path between the user's foot and theearth so as to achieve the benefits of being grounded with the earth.There is also a continuing need for inexpensive footwear which is wornby the user in bare feet, such as sandals, including flip-flops, whichare commonly worn outdoors and which have the grounding benefitsmentioned above. The present invention fulfills these needs and providesother related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a grounding foot-worn sandal orsoft-sole shoe, such as a flip-flop. The sandal of the present inventiongenerally comprises a sole having an upper foot-supporting surface and alower ground-engaging surface. The sole may be substantially planar. Thesole is preferably comprised of a flexible material.

A strap extends upwardly over the upper surface of the sole forreceiving a portion of a foot therein. The strap may be Y-shaped andconfigured to extend over opposite sides of the foot and between a bigtoe and an adjacent toe of the foot.

An elongated conductive strip extends from the upper surface of the soleto the lower surface of the sole, wherein the elongated conductive stripsimultaneously contacts the ground and the user's foot and provides aconductive path therebetween. The conductive strip may be comprised ofan elastomeric material having a conductor embedded therein sufficientto maintain 10/4^(th) conductivity. The conductive strip may becomprised of a rubber material having carbon embedded therein.

The conductive strip may extend substantially a length of the upper andlower surfaces of the sole. For example, the conductive strip may extendfrom a metatarsal pad to a heel of a foot of the user on the uppersurface of the sole and to the lower surface of the sole. The conductivestrip may be disposed within a groove formed in the upper surface of thesole and the lower surface of the sole.

The conductive strip may extend from the upper surface of the solethrough a slot formed in the sole and to the lower surface of the sole.The slot may be formed in a heel area of the sole.

The conductive strip may extend from the upper surface of the sole overan edge of the sole and to the lower surface of the sole. For example,the conductive strip may extend from under the strap along the uppersurface and over a back edge of the sandal to a lower surface of thesole.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a grounding sandal embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the sandal of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the sandal of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the sandal of FIG. 1, illustrating a conductive strip used in accordance with the presentinvention and a groove formed in a sole of the sandal, in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a foot on the sandal andin contact with the conductive strip, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a grounding sandal embodying thepresent invention having a conductive strip extending through a sole ofthe sandal;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the sandal of FIG. 6 ; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a foot on the sandal andin contact with the conductive strip, in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, thepresent invention is directed to grounding soft-soled footwear andparticularly to a grounding foot-worn sandal, generally referred to bythe reference number 100. The sandal 100 of the present invention, asmore fully described below, grounds a foot of a wearer of the sandalwith the underlying ground, resulting in conductive contact with theearth. An aim of the present invention is to effectively reduce andprevent static charges on the body and restore the natural electricpotential of the earth to the body.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-3 , a sandal 100, in the form of aflip-flop which is particularly suited for the present invention, isshown. The sandal 100 is comprised of a sole which is preferablycomprised of a flexible material, such as an elastomeric material,including rubber, plastic, polyurethane, or the like, which may becomprised of a foam material. The sole 102 could also be comprised ofother flexible materials, such as leather, suede or even fabric. Whilethe sole 102 illustrated herein is shown as a single member, it will beunderstood that the sole 102 could be multi-layered, such as having abottom sole, mid sole, and upper insole or the like. The differentlayers or sections or areas of the sole 102 could be comprised ofdifferent materials.

The sole 102 may be substantially planar, as illustrated, and as iscommon with flip-flop style sandals. Substantially planar as used hereinencompasses the sole 102 being completely planar and also taking intoaccount curvatures and configurations for supporting a user's foot andproviding traction.

The sole 102 has an upper foot supporting surface 104 and a generallyopposite lower ground engaging surface 106. As is well known, a userplaces his or her foot onto the upper surface 104 when wearing thesandal 100 and the lower surface 106 engages the ground, such as whenthe user is standing or walking.

A strap 108 extends upwardly over the upper surface 104 of the sole 102for receiving a portion of a user's foot therein, permitting the user towear and walk in the sandal 100. As such, the strap 108 extends over atleast a portion of the user's foot. In the illustrated preferredembodiment of a flip-flop sandal 100, the strap 108 comprises a Y-shapedstrap having first and second side member 110 and 112 which extend alonga length of the sole 102 so as to extend over opposite sides of a user'sfoot, and converging to a peg or post 114 which the user disposesbetween his or her big toe and an adjacent toe of the foot.

It will be appreciated, however, that the strap 108 can have differentconfigurations so long as it serves to retain the sandal 100 to theuser's foot when in use. For example, the sandal 100 could comprise whatis known as a slider sandal, commonly referred to as a “slide” which isa sandal with a flat, soft flexible sole and a single thick strapextending substantially across a front portion of the sandal throughwhich a user inserts a portion of his or her foot to retain the slide onthe foot. There are also other strap or sandal configurations, whereintypically they are open-toed and leave the back end of the sandalexposed. In the case of a Y-shaped strap, as illustrated herein andcommonly used in connection with flip-flop style sandals, the strap 108fastens between the big and second toe and branches out, securing to thesole 102 on both sides of the foot, usually as far back as the arch ofthe user's foot.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3 , the sandal 100 of the presentinvention also includes a conductive member 116 configured and arrangedso as to simultaneously contact the ground and a user's foot, so as toprovide a conductive path therebetween, when the sandal 100 is worn bythe user. Preferably, the conductive member 116 is comprised of aflexible material, such as an elastomeric material, which is capable ofbending and flexing with the soft, flexible sole 102 of the sandal 100so a not to cause discomfort to the user when wearing the sandal 100.The elastomeric material has a conductor embedded therein sufficient tomaintain 10/4^(th) conductivity. Typically, the conductive strip iscomprised of a rubber material having carbon embedded therein.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the conductivemember 116 comprises an elongated conductive strip which extends fromthe upper surface 104 of the sole, which the user's foot contacts, tothe lower surface 106 of the sole, which contacts the ground, so as tocreate a conductive path therebetween.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 , the conductive strip 116 may extend fromthe upper surface 104 of the sole and over an edge of the sole 102 andto the lower surface of the sole 106. In the illustrated embodiment, theconductive strip 116 extends substantially a length of the upper andlower surfaces of the sole 102. In a particularly preferred embodiment,as illustrated, the conductive strip 116 extends substantially a lengthof the sole, such as from a metatarsal area 118 of the sole 102, wherethe user's metatarsal portion of his or her foot would be placed,typically under the strap 108, to a heel portion 120 of the sole 102,where the user's heel of his or her foot would typically be placed onthe sandal 100 when standing. The elongated strip 116 may then extendover a back edge 122 of the sole 102 to the lower surface 106 of thesole 102.

The conductive strip 116 extends a length of the sole 102 along thebottom surface 106 thereof sufficient so as to contact the ground whenthe user is wearing the sandal 100. Preferably, as mentioned above, theconductive strip 116 extends substantially the length of the bottomsurface 106 of the sole 102, such as to an area below the metatarsalportion or area 118 of the sole 102. Preferably, the conductive strip116 extends from the metatarsal area 118 of the upper surface 104 of thesole 102 over the edge and to a corresponding area below the metatarsalportion 118 of the lower surface 106. When walking in a flip-flop orother open heel sandal the metatarsal or foot pad area 118 remains incontact with the user's foot and the ground when walking, whereas theuser's heel of his or her foot and possibly even the heel portion 120 ofthe sandal 100 may be lifted off the ground and/or not remain in contactwith the user's heel portion of his or her foot.

With reference now to FIG. 5 , a partially cross-sectioned view is shownof the sandal 100, in the form of a flip-flop, having a user's foot 2thereon, with the post or portion 114 of the strap 108 positionedbetween the user's big toe 4 and adjacent toe 6 and the user'smetatarsal or footpad area 8 being in direct contact with the elongatedstrip 116 at the metatarsal portion or area 118 of the sole 102 and theuser's heel 10 also in contact with the conductive strip 116 at the heelportion or area 120 of the sole 102. Such would be the case, forexample, when the user is standing upright. It will be understood,however, that when walking the user's heel 10 may be lifted upwardly andout of contact with the heel portion 120 of the sole 102. However, theuser's metatarsal or footpad region 8 of his or her foot 2 will remainin contact with the sole 102 at the metatarsal portion or region 118,and thus in continuous contact with the conductive strip 116, whichextends to the lower surface 106 of the sole 102 so as to come intocontact with the ground surface. Thus, when either standing or walking,a conductive pathway will be formed between the ground and the user'sbare foot.

The conductive strip 116 may be integrally formed with the sole 102,laminated or adhered on the upper and lower surfaces 104 and 106, orotherwise attached by any acceptable means which will allow theconductive strip 116 to extend between the upper and lower surfaces 104and 106 of the sole 102 to create the conductive pathway between theground and the user's foot, as described above. With reference to FIG. 4, in a particularly preferred embodiment, an open-faced groove orchannel 124 is formed in the sole 102 and the conductive strip 116 isplaced therein to be secured to the sole 102. This may be, for example,by means of adhesive, heat bonding or the like. The open-faced groove124 may be formed during the manufacturing process and molding of thesole 102.

The elongated strip 116 is then inserted into the open-faced groove soas to extend from the upper surface 104, across the edge of the sole 102and to the lower surface, as illustrated and described above, and thenaffixed into place.

It will be appreciated that the conductive strip 116 either extendsslightly above the surface of the open-faced groove 124, issubstantially flush with the upper or lower surface 104 and 106 of thesole forming the open-faced groove 124 or is only slightly below thesesurfaces so as to be in contact with at least a portion of the user'sfoot 2 and the underlying ground surface when the sandal 100 is worn andbeing used. In this manner, a conductive pathway is created between theground surface and the user's foot.

It will be understood that the conductive strip 116 may be of varyingthicknesses and/or width. Typically, the conductive strip is betweenone-half and one inch in width, such as approximately three quarters ofan inch in width, although this may vary as deemed desirable ornecessary. The conductive strip 116, however, should present sufficientcontact area so as to create the desired conductive pathway between theground and the user's foot.

As mentioned above, the conductive strip 116 is comprised of a materialwhich has a sufficient softness and stretchable thickness so as tomaintain the user's foot with continuous conductive contact with theearth when walking or sitting and wearing the sandal 100 and remainingcomfortable to the user.

With reference now to FIGS. 6-8 , another sandal 100 embodying thepresent invention, in the form of a flip-flop, is shown. The samereference numbers are used for the corresponding structure in theembodiments illustrated and described above as this embodiment sharesmany of the same aspects as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 .

More particularly, the sandal or flip-flop 100 illustrated in FIGS. 6-8is comprised of a sole 102 having a foot-engaging upper surface 104 anda ground-engaging lower surface 106. A strap 108, as described above,enables a user to secure his or her foot on the upper surface 104 of thesole 102 so as to wear the sandal or flip-flop 100. An elongatedconductive strip 116 also extends substantially a length of the uppersurface 104 and lower surface 106, preferably between the metatarsal orfoot pad area 118 and the heel portion 120 of the sandal 100.

In this case, however, instead of the elongated conductive strip 116extending over an edge, such as the back edge 122 of the sole 102, aslot 126 is formed through the sole 102 through which the conductivestrip 116 extends. While the conductive strip 116 could comprise aplurality of interconnected or attached strips, in a particularlypreferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 , the elongated strip116 is of a single member of unitary construction and extends from theupper sole surface 104, through slot or passageway 126, which extendsfrom the upper surface 104 to the lower surface 106, and then theconductive strip 116 extends a length along the lower surface, asillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 .

Thus, when an individual is wearing the sandal 100, as illustrated inFIG. 8 , his or her foot 2 will come into contact with the conductivestrip 116 on the upper surface 104 of the sole 102, creating aconductive pathway to the ground through the conductive strip 116disposed on the lower surface 106 of the sole 102, which is in contactwith the ground, as mentioned above. This will be the case whether theindividual is standing or walking, as the elongated conductive strip 116extends substantially a length of the sole 102, such as between themetatarsal or foot pad area 118 to the heel area 120 on both the upperand lower surfaces 104 and 106 of the sole 102.

As mentioned above, the conductive strip 116 may be integrally formedwith the sole 102, laminated or adhered on the upper and lower surfaces104 and 106, or otherwise attached by any acceptable means, butpreferably is inserted in an open-faced groove or channel 124 andsecured to the sole 102 by adhesive, heat bonding or the like.

It will be understood that the conductive strip 116 has the sameproperties and characteristics and may be comprised of the samematerials, as described above, so as to create a conductive pathwaybetween the user's foot 2 and the ground surface. The elastomericmaterial comprising the conductive strip 116 has a conductor, such ascarbon, embedded therein sufficient to maintain a 10/4^(th)conductivity. Preferably, the conductive member 116, as described above,is comprised of a flexible material capable of bending and flexing withthe soft, flexible sole 102 of the sandal 100.

The conductive strip 116 typically extends from the heel area 120, suchas the slot 126 being formed approximately an inch from the back edge122 of the sole 102 to the metatarsal foot pad area 118. However, theconductive strip 116 may extend a longer length of the sole 102 of thesandal 100 or even a shorter length. It is particularly important thatthe conductive strip 116 be in contact with the metatarsal or foot padof the user's foot when wearing and using the sandal 100, although it ispreferable that the user's heel will also contact the conductive strip116 when in use. While the width of the conductive strip 116 can vary,it should be of a sufficiently large width so as to create conductivecontact between the user's foot and the ground. While the strap 108illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 is of a particularly preferred configuration,it will be appreciated that other straps or means of retaining theuser's foot on the sole 102 so as to wear the flip-flop or sandal 100are also contemplated by the present invention.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposesof illustration, various modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the inventionis not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A grounding foot-worn sandal, comprising: a solehaving an upper foot supporting surface and a lower ground engagingsurface; a strap extending upwardly over the upper surface of the solefor receiving a portion of a foot therein; and an elongated conductivestrip extending from the upper surface of the sole to the lower surfaceof the sole; wherein the elongated conductive strip simultaneouslycontacts the ground and a user's foot and provides a conductive paththerebetween.
 2. The sandal of claim 1, wherein the conductive stripextends from the upper surface of the sole through a slot formed in thesole and to the lower surface of the sole.
 3. The sandal of claim 2,wherein the slot is formed in a heel area of the of the sole.
 4. Thesandal of claim 1, wherein the conductive strip extends from the uppersurface of the sole over an edge of the sole and to the lower surface ofthe sole.
 5. The sandal of claim 4, wherein the conductive strip extendsfrom under the strap along the upper surface and over a back edge of thesandal to the lower surface of the sole.
 6. The sandal of claim 1,wherein the conductive strip is disposed within a groove formed in thesole extending from the upper surface of the sole to the lower surfaceof the sole.
 7. The sandal of claim 1, wherein the conductive stripextends substantially a length of the upper and lower surfaces of thesole.
 8. The sandal of claim 1, wherein the conductive strip extendsfrom a metatarsal pad area to a heel area on the upper surface of thesole.
 9. The sandal of claim 1, wherein the conductive strip iscomprised of an elastomeric material having a conductor embedded thereinsufficient to maintain 10/4^(th) conductivity.
 10. The sandal of claim9, wherein the conductive strip is comprised of a rubber material havingcarbon embedded therein.
 11. The sandal of claim 1, wherein the sandalcomprises a flip flop.
 12. The sandal of claim 11, wherein the strap isY-shaped and configured to extend over opposite sides of the foot andbetween a big toe and an adjacent toe of the foot.
 13. The sandal ofclaim 1, wherein the sole is substantially planar.
 14. The sandal ofclaim 1, wherein the sole is comprised of a flexible material.
 15. Agrounding foot-worn sandal, comprising: a sole having an upper footsupporting surface and a lower ground engaging surface; a strapextending upwardly over the upper surface of the sole for receiving aportion of a foot therein; and an elongated conductive strip extendingbetween a metatarsal pad area to a heel area of the upper surface of thesole and through a slot formed in the sole to the lower surface of thesole; wherein the conductive strip is comprised of an elastomericmaterial having a conductor embedded therein sufficient to maintain10/4^(th) conductivity; and wherein the elongated conductive stripsimultaneously contacts the ground and a user's foot and provides aconductive path therebetween.
 16. The sandal of claim 15, wherein theslot is formed in a heel area of the of the sole.
 17. The sandal ofclaim 15, wherein the conductive strip is disposed within grooves formedin upper and lower surfaces of the sole.
 18. The sandal of claim 15,wherein the conductive strip extends substantially a length of the lowersurface of the sole.
 19. The sandal of claim 15, wherein the conductivestrip is comprised of a rubber material having carbon embedded therein.20. The sandal of claim 15, wherein the sandal comprises a flip flop,wherein the strap is Y-shaped and configured to extend over oppositesides of the foot and between a big toe and an adjacent toe of the foot,and wherein the sole is substantially planar and comprised of a flexiblematerial.
 21. A grounding foot-worn sandal, comprising: a sole having anupper foot supporting surface and a lower ground engaging surface; astrap extending upwardly over the upper surface of the sole forreceiving a portion of a foot therein; and an elongated conductive stripdisposed within a groove formed in the sole and extending from the uppersurface of the sole over an edge of the sole and to the lower surface ofthe sole; wherein the conductive strip is comprised of an elastomericmaterial having a conductor embedded therein sufficient to maintain10/4^(th) conductivity; and wherein the elongated conductive stripsimultaneously contacts the ground and a user's foot and provides aconductive path therebetween.
 22. The sandal of claim 20, wherein theconductive strip extends from under the strap along the upper surfaceand over a back edge of the sandal to the lower surface of the sole. 23.The sandal of claim 20, wherein the conductive strip extends from ametatarsal pad area to a heel area on the upper surface of the sole andsubstantially a length of the lower surface of the sole.
 24. The sandalof claim 20, wherein the conductive strip is comprised of a rubbermaterial having carbon embedded therein.
 25. The sandal of claim 20,wherein the sandal comprises a flip flop and wherein the strap isY-shaped and configured to extend over opposite sides of the foot andbetween a big toe and an adjacent toe of the foot, and wherein the soleis substantially planar and comprised of a flexible material.